Survivor Assistance

What is a landmine survivor?

Landmine survivors are individuals or groups of people who have suffered physically, emotionally and economically because of landmines. This means that survivors are not only the people who actually step on mines, but other individuals, family members, and communities affected by them.

Photo: John Rodsted

What is survivor assistance?

Landmine survivors require assistance for life. Survivor assistance is a term that refers to the care and rehabilitation provided for the immediate and long-term needs of mine survivors, their families, and mine-affected communities.

What types of survivor assistance programs should be available to survivors?

The ICBL promotes specialized programs that allow survivors to fully reintegrate into society. Often survivors do not have access to these programs in their communities.

• Emergency and continuing medical care, including first aid treatment, clean supplies and trained medical staff.
  
• Physical rehabilitation, prostheses (artificial limbs) and assistive devices such as wheelchairs and crutches that are inexpensive, fit, are safe, durable and can be maintained locally.
  
• Psychological and social support, employment and economic reintegration programs involving survivors in all levels of the decision making process.
  
• Legislation and public awareness protecting all disabled people from discrimination and providing full access to services and assistance.